Ch. 8 Wanted

I finally reached my house sprinting up the steps to go inside. "Mom?" I yelled throwing my stuff on the couch. "Not home…guess I'm gonna have to clean this place up myself." I quickly threw our coats in the closet and put all the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Next I took all the clothes on the couch and threw them into the hamper. Man this place is a pigsty! I ran to my room and surveyed it sighing in relief. The covers on my bed were in shambles but at least my clothes were put away already. Ding-dong! Oh crap! He's here. I ran to the door and paused to smooth out my hair quickly before I opened it.

"Hey Harper," Eli said with his arms full of supplies.

"Hey Eli, let me help with that." I grabbed our poster board and the textbook he brought over then held the door open for him.

"Nice place you got here."

"Thanks. It's bigger than our last house."

"Is it?"

"Yeah. I think mom kinda splurged."

"So where's your room?"

"Oh um, it's the second room on the right," I said pointing down the hall. He smirked then continued walking past me towards my room.

"Hey wait! Why don't we work in here?"

"Oh come on Harper, where's the fun in that?"

"Fun?"

"Are you not allowed to have boys in your room?" He asked with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Of course I can!" I yelled blushing madly. "I just think we'll have more room and fewer distractions if we work in here."

"Nah, I like distractions." He walked into my room with me closely behind him.

"Sorry, my room's a bit of a mess." I quickly straightened my bed sheet and kicked some stuff under my bed. He flopped down on it and I raised a brow at him. He gave me a crooked smile and patted the bed indicating he wanted me to sit. I laughed and plopped down on the bed crossing my legs.

"So, do you want to make a baby with me?"

"What?"

"Whoa! Relax, I'm talking about meiosis, the process of reproduction…as our topic."

"Oh! Yeah, I totally knew that!"

"Sure…"he said laughing.

"You jerk." I said pushing his arm. "You didn't have to say it like that."

"Sure I did. Honestly, I take enjoyment from your embarrassment."

"Oh really? Nice to know. I'll be sure to humiliate myself more often." We laughed and began to work on the poster. An hour later we were just about done but I was starving. "Hey, are you hungry? We have chips in the kitchen."

"Well gee, I thought you'd never ask," he said sarcastically.

"I'm going, I'm going." I left to grab the chips and when I came back he was hunched over an unpacked box in the corner of my room.

"Hey! Don't touch that stuff!" I ran over and tried to grab the VHS tape in his hands but he held it out of my reach.

"Harper's fourth birthday?" He asked with a smile. "I have to see this!"

"No you don't. I don't even want to see it again-ever!"

"Why not?" I stopped reaching for the tape and looked at him.

"Because this is the last time my bastard of a father ever celebrated my birthday. He left us a few months after this was filmed. Eli's face visibly softened.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"It's fine. I just, well I don't even know why I still have the stupid tape." He handed it to me and I tossed it onto the bed. We stood in silence only a foot apart. "You know, when he left, I tried to stop him. I grabbed onto his leg crying and begging him not to go while my mom was on the floor bawling her eyes out. He only dragged me to the door then pried me off his leg. He didn't even turn around and look back when he shut the door on me. I thought it was my fault. Maybe something I said or did… For months I asked my mom what I did to make daddy leave. I think that broke my mom's heart even more. It was hard for both of us; my mom became a single mother with a child not even in school yet. She had to work late night shifts while I was asleep at home, meanwhile every day I would sit and stare out the window hoping that he would come back one day. I eventually stopped when I was five and started school. Since the day he left, he hasn't contacted us or anything; no letters, child support, phone calls… I don't even know if he's alive. But the saddest part is that if he is, I don't think he cares that I am. A tear slid down my cheek and I closed my eyes. I sucked in a deep breath then opened my eyes to look at Eli. I'm sorry I don't know why I told you all of-" he cut me off suddenly embracing me in a deep hug.

"Harper, you and your mom definitely didn't deserve that. Your dad is a jerk and was insane to leave a great girl like you behind." I remained quiet but hugged Eli back with just as much intensity. We stayed like that until I was sure his shirt was soaked with my salty tears.

"I'm sorry Eli. I'm so stupid sometimes."

"No you're not." His gaze on me was so intense I didn't dare counter him.

"Anyway, would you like to see it? The tape?"

"No, I wouldn't-"

"Nonsense. You already know the story." I grabbed the tape from my bed and put it in the vcr and hit play. We both sat on my bed and watched. Harper, look at the camera silly! Now blow out the candles! Mommy I can't look at you and blow! Okay okay! Ready Harper? Yeah daddy! One, two, three! Yay! Where are my presents? Harper! Sorry! Watching my dad now, I still don't get why he left. We seemed like such a happy family…Warmth touched my cheek and I realized that Eli had reached out to wipe my tear away.

"You shouldn't waste your tears on trash." And it was there at that instant that I realized Eli was special. He cared and I knew it. I felt it in the core of my very being. He's the only person besides my mother that I'm sharing this pain with and I know he won't be another scar on my heart.

"Thank you Eli. It actually felt nice to get this all out." He smiled at me and scooted closer putting his arm over my shoulder.

"Harper, I swear if that bastard or anyone else for that matter tries to hurt you they're in for a world of pain." I laughed and turned to look at him.

"I'm sure they will be." Then I noticed how close we were. I suddenly felt extremely hot but, for the first time I didn't mind. I bit my lip and slowly leaned forward. I was fearful he wouldn't respond but I decided to take a leap of faith anyway. I closed my eyes and instantly I felt warmth nearing my lips. We had to be millimeters away and I smiled knowing that my feelings had been reciprocated.

"Harper! I'm home!" I quickly pulled away from Eli disappointed that we didn't get to kiss. Great timing mom, seriously. I looked at Eli apologetically.

"Sorry." He shook his head at me.

"It's fine." He grabbed his textbook and the poster then walked out to the hall.

"Wait, hold up Eli!"

"Oh, who's this?" My mom asked surprised we had a guest.

"Mom, Eli. Eli, my mom."

"Hi Ms. McDaniel."

"Oh! Hi Eli, I'm glad to meet you finally! Would you like to stay for dinner? I can whip something up."

"No thanks, I have a lot of stuff to do at home."

"Oh, all right. Maybe next time."

"Yeah," he said seemingly unsure of himself. I frowned.

"Eli is everything ok?"

"Yeah, I'll finish the project myself ok?"

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Uh, alright."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, bye Eli." And with that he shut the door. What the heck is the matter with him?